TRUTH in recruiting

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Lot of good post here. I also think some players feel they need to go to a top 10 college or a well know D1 school. What about the FREE education they would get. I have always said if my DD got a full ride to our local college I would be happy; I am not downing its just an example. I think my DD understands that after college there is no softball; sure get what you can for a scholarship....have fun playing softball at college and get a free education. Last I heard that professional softball players were not signing million dollar contracts. Also, even if the college softball program does not get you a full ride, players still have the opportunity to get more money through academics scholarships. Even if you get a full ride through the softball program, the college still wants you to apply for an academic scholarship so that it saves them money.

Your DD is a product she needs to sell herself to the colleges.
Not all showcase tourneys have colleges attending so don't be fooled by all summer teams.
Players need to start preparing (academically) for college at 9th grade. As of 2013 D1 and D2 require that to be eligible you must take 16 core classes to become a D1 or D2 athlete. When they start back to high school in September have DD meet with guidance counselor and let the counselor know that your plans are to be a D1 or D2 athlete. If you get a great ACT/SAT score that really helps; if not you can take it again.

There are a lot of items to prepare for in order to be recruited. If your DD does not have what it takes academically then D1 may not be for her. For example during season D1 will practice 20 hours per week; if you are a pitcher that's more hours; go see your batting coach, that is even more. Throw in volunteer services that they do; forgot to mention if travel ball teams to volunteer services that looks good to colleges.

 

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Great post Finch. Interestingly enough, college D-1 football, where there is a top 150 "watch list" far more in depth then softball recruiting, STILL wants the player to "camp" with them so they get a look see against similar situation and players. We had a kid on our adidas team, and UNBELIEVABLE 8th grader who is getting recruited by BIG TIME schools, they obviously have her on a "watch list" of some sort, the very elite, even as good as she is, her and her dad realize that it's about reaching out to colleges them self.

 

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Question?
If a shortstop went to ASA Gold Nationals once for an elite known team,would it trump a player going to 8 camps a certain college offered followed by emails from that player(not a parent!) about where she would be playing any given weekend and her yearning to play for that college?

If she goes to the gold tourney and performs well, yes it would trump the contacts at camps. They do of course need to know that you are participating that day, and you have to have a connected coach to get the word out to them, as well as your dd sending some info.

On your other question about the camps, a lot of times, you are wasting money to go to a lot of these camps. They are a flat out money maker for the coaching staff. Although everyone likes to think that they are used by the coaches to pick there future players. Most of the time it is part of the compensation package of the coaches.

I am a big fan of college softball, and my dd has been to many of these camps in her early years. But to think a college coach picks there recruits from 150-250 girls sliding, hitting off a machine, or playing pick up games all at once is short sighted. They want to see if you can hit, run, and play with future d1 players in a PGF or Gold type atmosphere.

To make a long story short, having your dd playing the most competive ball gives you a better chance in the long run for her to be on the biggest stage available to her collegiately.

 

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the part of logic, that I never understood, is say you play in a Gold tournament, and play great, but the 5 teams you are hoping to play for are on another field or not even there, how does that get you recruited? If you are truly top top top player, then colleges may know about you, for the other 99 percent of players out there are far better served to go to recruiting events like Kent State or to reach out to the colleges and try to get them to look at you at a camp or practice...

 

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You will play in some tournaments where there aren't many college coaches Gold or non Gold. However, if play in a big Gold tournament and do your leg work coaches will be there and they will watch. Gold really isn't much of an option in Ohio for most players, there are only a few Gold teams. Maybe 2 a year on Avg.?

 

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I have not been to one of the big gold tournaments. Aren't they mostly teams with the stud pitchers and low scoring games. How much can a college coach see a position player do in that environment?

 

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My thoughts on this may differ from most but I don't buy into the You must "Travel the country", Play "Gold", or play "only the Best tourneys".

Here is why:

Not counting the last few years. Just this year, my 18U team had 8 of our 11 sign to play in college.

Most got very good deals from their colleges. Sure, not one is playing for UCLA or Florida, etc but none the less they saved a TON of money toward their education, and after all, isn't that the point?

We applied to Stingrays, Gapps, etc but just like a lot of organizations we were not chosen this year.

We played Toledo Tune-Up, SGS Shootout, Midwest Gem City Shootout, All-sanctioned World Series, etc.

We played "ASA A". My players e-mailed the coaches they wanted to play for, sent in profiles, went to their camps, and I myself followed up with calls to the coaches and lots of emails and regular letters by snail mail.

We had plenty of coaches show up and watch our players and in some instances my players were video taped by the colleges. Ultimately they were seen and recruited and not once did we travel to the "Huge tournaments", or Larger "Showcases".
We played the best schedule we could afford and although it was not the top notch, super elite, wing ding, bada bing, best in Ohio, or best in the west, we still accomplished what we wanted. Getting our girls in the Colleges that they wanted.

All without traveling way too much or spending tons of cash. Not bashing anyone or any organization in ANY way just saying that we are Proof that you CAN be recruited without taking out a second mortgage.

 

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Gold, Premiere, whats next Tiffany or Platinum??? Please... it's all about the Benjamin's for any of the associations that are popping up like weeds...

 

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For what it is worth here are my two cents. It is absolutely critical that families make contact with colleges of their DD's choice and begin to establish a relationship. If the goal is big DI then it is equally as critical to play at the big tourneys against the best the nation has to offer. ASA/USA nationals and Premier will both provide the exposure to those teams. Premier is really a cut above ASA/USA in the sense that it is more concentrated with the top teams and top coaches. In our group we had 42 teams and they were all outstanding softball teams and the margin of seperation between each team was very small. At ASA/USA much higher number of entries (100+). Still college coaches go to both .

If your DD's goal is not the BIG TIME then do your homework, make contacts, and play as competitively as possible. Remember this, we all love our kids and want the best for them and the reason we try to get a scholarship is for the education first then the opportunity to compete at a high level.

 

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AWESOME comments Valley. I talked to Dave Day tonight, 18U Magic coach, highly successful, 25 kids signed D-1 and D-2. He has won the colorado sparkler, 2nd this year NSA world series, laser nations, compuware etc. He committed "it was wonderful playing great competition, but the way our kids got signed was from developing personal relationships with colleges, doing the leg work contacting them" Dave has agreed to talk at our tryouts tomorrow at noon at Rolf about this. ANYONE even if you are not trying out, are welcome to hear his talk under the pavilion around 12:15pm. Glad also you play in our tournaments Valley!

My thoughts on this may differ from most but I don't buy into the You must "Travel the country", Play "Gold", or play "only the Best tourneys".

Here is why:

Not counting the last few years. Just this year, my 18U team had 8 of our 11 sign to play in college.

Most got very good deals from their colleges. Sure, not one is playing for UCLA or Florida, etc but none the less they saved a TON of money toward their education, and after all, isn't that the point?

We applied to Stingrays, Gapps, etc but just like a lot of organizations we were not chosen this year.

We played Toledo Tune-Up, SGS Shootout, Midwest Gem City Shootout, All-sanctioned World Series, etc.

We played "ASA A". My players e-mailed the coaches they wanted to play for, sent in profiles, went to their camps, and I myself followed up with calls to the coaches and lots of emails and regular letters by snail mail.

We had plenty of coaches show up and watch our players and in some instances my players were video taped by the colleges. Ultimately they were seen and recruited and not once did we travel to the "Huge tournaments", or Larger "Showcases".
We played the best schedule we could afford and although it was not the top notch, super elite, wing ding, bada bing, best in Ohio, or best in the west, we still accomplished what we wanted. Getting our girls in the Colleges that they wanted.

All without traveling way too much or spending tons of cash. Not bashing anyone or any organization in ANY way just saying that we are Proof that you CAN be recruited without taking out a second mortgage.

 

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the part of logic, that I never understood, is say you play in a Gold tournament, and play great, but the 5 teams you are hoping to play for are on another field or not even there, how does that get you recruited? If you are truly top top top player, then colleges may know about you, for the other 99 percent of players out there are far better served to go to recruiting events like Kent State or to reach out to the colleges and try to get them to look at you at a camp or practice...

I thinks thats why quite a few girls go to the national level teams. Just because you put a Gold moniker at the end of your teams name, does not get the coaches coming to your games. Thats why some of the bigger teams have jumped ship to PGF. There is still some purity in the teams playing at the PGF level and the college coaches know it. Like it or not, college coaches know that the girls playing in those competitions are of a higher caliber because of the coaches and organizations that field those teams.

ASA shot themselves in the foot when they allowed everyone with the "gold" name to join the gold circuit whether they deserved to be playing at that level or not.